New setting. The previous games took place in the late 12th century and the late 15th century in Europe. This one moves us across the pond to Revolutionary War-era America. The biggest change here is shifting away from the enormous, bustling cities of Renaissance Europe to the humbler settlements of the new United States. The game promises both Boston and New York, but also huge swaths of wilderness in between.

New protagonist. Altair and Ezio, the main characters of the last games, were both members of the Assassin’s Order that battled against the Templars. Our new guy, Connor Kenway, seems far removed from this secret organization of killers – he’s a half-Indian mutt who sees his village destroyed and sets out for revenge.

The end to the story. If you haven’t played the other games, here’s the basic twist: all of your past-time adventures are being experienced by a guy named Desmond Miles, a descendant of all three protagonists. Plugged into a device called the Animus, he can reach back into his ancestral DNA and experience their lives. This also tips him off that the world’s set to end on December 12, 2012. Ubisoft has said they don’t want gamers playing a game set in “the future” of a year that’s already past, so expect Desmond’s quest to find resolution.

New weapons. Connor can take lives with all kinds of tools, including a pair of flintlock pistols, a bow and arrow and a rope with a blade attached. But his primary weapon is a tomahawk carved in the shape of the Assassin insignia. This puppy can take scalps like nobody’s business.

New environments. One of the biggest pleasures in the series is using your acrobatic skills to navigate the world, and Assassin’s Creed III looks to rack that up a couple hundred notches. In addition to the parkour-inspired city running, you’ll be able to climb trees and jump from branch to branch, scale cliffs, get bogged down in snow and much more. You can also use your eagle vision to track and kill animals and skin them for pelts.

New historical figures. Considering that the game takes place during one of the most important and violent eras in American history, it’s not surprising that Connor will cross paths with people like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and more. I doubt you get to kill any of them, though.